Directed by Lewis Collins
Produced by Vincent M. Fennelly
Story and Screenplay by Dan Ullman
Cinematography: Ernest Miller
Cast: Wild Bill Elliott (Joe Daniels), Peggy Stewart (Kay Collins), House Peters, Jr. (Ralph Carruthers), Lane Bradford (Fred Jethro), Stan Jolley (Slater), Fuzzy Knight (Cap), John Hart, Lyle Talbot
__________
The last couple years, we’ve compiled lists of our favorite 50s Western DVD releases for that year, which I post on this blog. Well, I’m gonna go ahead and reveal my pick for the best DVD release of 2015 — Warner Archive’s Wild Bill Elliott Western Collection.
After The Showdown (1950), William Elliott and Republic Pictures parted ways. It wasn’t long before Elliott entered into a deal with Monogram Pictures to make some low-budget Westerns. In the end, there were 11 of them — with Monogram becoming Allied Artists midstream.
They’re a bit darker and more “adult” than your typical B Western. While the budget limitations are obvious, Elliott’s as reliable as ever — and he’s got some top-notch support from folks like Harry Morgan, Peggy Stewart, Myron Healey, Phyllis Coates, Denver Pyle, Beverly Garland, John Doucette and Fuzzy Knight. I love these little movies.
Kansas Territory (1952) is one of the better ones. Elliott journeys to Kansas, even though he’s wanted there on an old Civil War charge, to find out who killed his brother. Along the way, he learns his sibling went bad and probably deserved what he got. That, of course, doesn’t stop Wild Bill from tracking down the killer.
Elliott’s determination to get his revenge puts a hard edge on his usual “peaceable man” image. We know he’s a good man, but he’s got some dirty business to tend to — and it’s become an obsession. Dan Ullman’s scripts for these pictures (and for the Elliott detective films that followed) are very tight, and he manages to find something a little different to toss at a familiar plot point.
Shot at the Iverson Ranch by ace cinematographer Ernest Miller, under the working title Vengeance Trail, Kansas Territory looks great. Monogram struck prints of these pictures in “glorious sepia tone,” and while I’m a stickler for preserving the original presentation, I’m glad Warner Archive stuck with black and white. Sepia doesn’t always come off well on TV. This set is terrific, giving you eight of the 11 pictures on three DVDs. For me, it’s hard to avoid watching them all in a hard-riding, popcorn-munching binge. A must.
This is absolutely the best reason for a Wild Bill Wednesday EVER, Toby!!
I share your great enthusiasm for this release (my copy on its way).
Ha! so BOMBA gets top billing over Wild Bill,I’d love a
whole book of these wonderful old press ads.
I was most amused some time back on FWOTF when there was
an announcement regarding a John Ford stamp and someone,
most amusingly,I thought,stated “when is Ford Beebe gonna get
his stamp?”
Beebe of course directed the Bomba films,just to prove there is
some kinda link to all this.
Like Mr Entract I am waiting for my Wild Bill set to arrive,which is
probably just as well as at the moment I am working my way through
Turbine Media of Germany’s sensational Invisible Man collection.
The Turbine set is a DVD/Blu Ray combo of Universal’s Invisible Man
films which include THE INVISIBLE WOMAN and the A & C entry.
The packaging is just about the best I’ve seen as far as these Box Sets
go.
The film that really blew me away (so far) is Ford Beebe’s THE INVISIBLE
MANS REVENGE a really dark entry where the IM is a total rotter
from the word go.Apart from some nonsense where the IM gets involved
in a darts match at a local pub Beebe’s film is pretty dark and incredibly
entertaining.
There’s no accounting for taste,of course but I also happen to love
the BOMBA films which I feel hold up pretty well today and prove
Beebe was a master of making something out of nothing.
I realty don’t know what Universal USA are doing regarding their
second string monster hits (HOUSE OF DRACULA and the like)
there are rumors of a box set in the works.
I am amazed at all the Blu Ray editions of Universal hits appearing
in Europe-Germany also have the Blu of THIS ISLAND EARTH
out next week.
I have no doubt Universal will sort out domestic releases of all these
great films over time.
I have,yet again veered off into Hannibal-8 territory and must admit
am getting a bit fed up with being the sole contributor over there so
how about some back up you guys!
Note to Toby: There may be some problems regarding my e-mail
as certain stuff seems not to be getting through-I have asked a
couple of times regarding the Joel McCrea Blogathon-is this,in
fact still happening-the deadline (November 5th) is closing in,.
I am also really excited to finally get really excellent versions of the great Wild Bill’s westerns. I’m awaiting my order to come in too.
As for Bomba, guess I just never was interested, still am not. Though I used to like Tarzan movies, but haven’t seen them either since I was a kid. Guess as one gets older you have to be more discerning what you spend your time on watching.
I still see 1 western matinee type feature (those like Roy Rogers/Gene Autry/Lash Larue/Rocky Lane etc. etc.) each Friday night along with TV westerns. Unfortunately it takes almost 3 months to go by before Bill Elliott’s short westerns come back up in the weekly rotation amongst all the other matinee westerns. Most recently I saw PRAIRIE GUNSMOKE, even these short Elliott westerns are always entertaining. I can even manage to stay awake in the middle of the night while watching (unfortunately I can’t say the same for Eddie Dean or Sunset Carson’s). That shows they must be good.
I too am awaiting for my copy of Bill Elliott Westerns to arrive .Lately I’ve been buying my DVDs from Import Cds which usually have the cheapest price .
I wish someone would release a similar box set of Rod Cameron Westerns. I do have the MONOGRAM COWBOY COLLECTION VOL 2 on order which has 2 of his movies on it.
Just to mention it—-VCI’s website shows a forthcoming DVD release of Return Of Wildfire and Last Of The Wild Horses, two 1948 Sepiatone titles.
Bomba rules! Would loved to have seen that Bomba/Wild Bill double bill at the theaters. Always liked Bomba better than the Tarzan series, especially when Tarzan, Jane, Boy and Cheeta became the first Cleavers setting up house in that split-level tree. Tarzan and Jane as Ward and June, Boy was perfect as Wally and Cheeta, of course, was the Beaver. When the series finally dumped Jane and it’s budget it became more interesting as Tarzan and Boy moved on to other things like battling Nazis, ” L-Z-X calling Berlin…L-Z-X calling Berlin “. Cheeta got the last laugh in that one when he was mistaken for Adolph…Now there’s no arguing that the Tarzan’s with Jane were the better movies, I just liked the later, cheaper ones better, including Sheffield’s Bomba series and Weissmuller’s Jungle Jim. Just personal taste.
As for Wild Bill (my set is also on the way), he was just outstanding no matter what he was featured in, for Columbia, Republic, Monogram, in serials, series, as Wild Bill, Red Ryder or a film noir cop. Can’t wait to start enjoying these fine Westerns, low budget film making at it’s absolute best.
I’ve already watched 6 of the 8 films and am very happy with this set. I’m especially impressed with some of the later entries directed by Tommy Carr. The simple use of a camera crane during some of the scenes makes these films look different and unique.
I’d also like to plug becoming an Amazon Prime member as a great source to watch Republic westerns. Everytime I’m on the treadmill, I load up a Republic or Pine-Thomas “B” to watch. Recently watched a terrific Don ‘Red’ Barry western, “THE CYCLONE KID” and “THE BLAZING FOREST” with John Payne. There’s lots of other Allan Lane, Bill Elliott, Sunset Carson & 3 Mesquiteers westerns available as well
Johnny Guitar: “as one gets older you have to be more discerning what
you spend your time on watching”
Jeepers,Johnny I sure wish the same thing applied to me.
Trouble with me the older I get the trashier the movies I watch.
What became of the young lad hooked on Kazan movies and the French
New Wave?
Great to see some love for Bomba out there.
I wish Sony would “gang up” their JUNGLE JIM movies as do Warner Archive.
The same goes for the Elliott,Buck Jones,Charles Starrett and Russell
Hayden films that they have released. Hey, those Hayden’s are not
half bad especially the ones with the great Bob Wills.
I see Mill Creek have some arrangement with Sony and are releasing loads
of stuff from Columbia’s dead dog files and at bargain prices too.
Hopefully JUNGLE JIM and the B Westerns will follow.
The following is another delve into Hannibal 8 territory but it
sure gets lonesome over there,so I’m posting it here instead.
Anyway DVD Beaver have just reviewed the Warner Home Video
“Special Effects Collection.” on Blu Ray.
Most titles get stellar reviews but The Beaver says that THEM! on
Blu Ray is far inferior to the DVD release…wonder what went wrong.
Furthermore Olive Films Blu Ray of Republic serial FLYING DISC
MAN FROM MARS gets a great review and I sure cannot wait for that
one!
I hate to hear that Them! might be lacking, but it’s worth it for the framing alone.
I think we both see this the same way. I didn’t mean discerning to be high hat selections or only those things deemed socially approved. I meant as you get older you spend your time watching things you enjoy watching, and not just anything that comes along or stuff you have no interest in.
I love ’50’s monster movies, Bowery Boys, 3 Stooges, Laurel & Hardy, Boris Karloff movies etc. none of which one might call the selections of the elite. But I’m discerning in that I don’t watch stuff I know I don’t really care about anymore. For instance, I used to like watching Brady Bunch when I was a kid and it was originally broadcast, I used to like watching Tarzan movies, Gilligan’s Island, and other things that don’t come immediately to mind but now I don’t care if I ever watch them again. Things I, personally have no interest in wasting my valuable time on. Time spent watching stuff I know I won’t enjoy is time wasted and spent away from a Bill Elliott movie, for instance.
So I think we agree here, we each find ourselves watching stuff we really enjoy and not so much stuff that’s supposed to be “good”. What each of us finds really enjoyable is, of course, subjective and individual. One man’s Bomba is another man’s Gilligan Island. I’m sure there are those that wouldn’t want to spend time watching Bowery Boys too but I love it. So whatever floats your boat. When I was younger I didn’t even think of “wasting my time” I watched just about anything.
As a massive Bill Elliott fan I’ve always been slightly baffled by the adulation in
some quarters for his Monogram/ Allied Artists pictures. I’ve seen most of them over the years and for the most part they seem tired, slackly directed affairs with
lacklustre plots and incredibly static camera work. These are drab entertainments with an aging star – A world away from Bill’s excellent (and criminally neglected) Republic ‘A’ pictures and even his high-energy if slightly daft B-movies with Dub Taylor and Gabby Hayes. I’ve also had to pass on the Red Ryder pictures which seem to me to be for the kids. How can you take seriously a character who has a sidekick called ‘Little Beaver’? I’ll probably take a look at the new Warner Archive release of the Elliott Monograms but I suspect that viewing them in the context of a decent print will make them seem even more deficient. Different strokes for different folks …
These are cheap movies, to be sure. One of the great things about this new set, for me anyway, has been the opportunity to get a new appreciation of the camerawork. They aren’t as static as I remember them being, and while the production values are lacking, they’re so often outdoors that it doesn’t matter so much. God’s a great set decorator.
I’ve always appreciated the attempt, usually from Dan Ullman, to do something a little different within the usual B Western conventions. Of course, we know that every saloon owner is a slimeball who runs the town — that’s the “butler did it” of B Westerns.
But in the end, these movies are 11 more chances to see Bill Elliott in a Western. Are they as good as the Republics? No, but a few come pretty close. And I’m a big fan of the “last-gasp” B Westerns, when they became a bit more in line with what was happening in 50s Westerns as a whole. From the later Autry pictures to Rogers movies like Spoilers Of The Plains to the Tim Holts and to the best of these Elliotts, there are some really cool movies to be found.
I’m with Richard on Elliott’s pictures – I enjoy his A and B pictures equally. It took me a while to get into Red Ryder but they are so darn well-made. He was authoritative from the start and his 4 early Wild Bill Saunders films at Columbia are some of his very best. He handled the action with aplomb and was one of the finest horsemen in Hollywood.
Can’t wait to see a pristine print of the fine ‘TOPEKA’ just for starters.
Does anyone have or seen that DVD called MEANWHILE BACK AT THE RANCH .I saw it on Amazon .It is a compilation of B Westerns made up of scenes from various movies .There are a whole stack of stars included .
Richard Oravitz ,I just noticed your review for it .Most of the reviews are all positive
I do have one of those volumes of BOMBA movies.
gcwe1…as for MEANWHILE BACK AT THE RANCH, I’d say ” Go for it “. I’m a big fan of B-Westerns and just can’t get enough Hoot, Tim McCoy, Ken Maynard, Buck Jones, Hoppy, Gene, Roy, Bill Cody, Buddy Roosevelt, Bob Steele and all of the many others. There are so many glowing reviews for this compilation film which plays like a feature. Fun stuff indeed for the fan of 1930s-40s Saturday afternoon adventures. Highly recommended.
As for BOMBA, buy the other set while you’re at it. You just can’t have enough BOMBA!
In France january 19, 2016 chez Rimini éditions:
JACK SLADE (Jack Slade, le damné) (1953) Harold Schuster
Starring Mark Stevens, Dorothy Malone, Barton Mac Lane
region 2 . English, French, french subtitles
John Knight will be ecstatic!
Thanks Chip,what a great start to 2016.
Actually the company releasing JACK SLADE is Artus Films,
and I’ve had stuff from them before,they do good work,
nice transfers and removable subtitles.
Amazon France have it listed as widescreen,if that’s so
then that’s wonderful.
Chip mentioned Rimini Editions another outstanding
French imprint.
I recently got their edition of THE LOST WORLD (1960)
and it’s sensational.
Next week Rimini are giving us the Worldwide Blu-Ray
release of Dmytryk’s LEFT HAND OF GOD so that’s
great although I guess the attractive extras may be in
French only,but I will be happy to finally get this
film in High Def.
As I have said many times before,both here and elsewhere
had JACK SLADE been directed by Sam Fuller or Joseph
H Lewis it’s “cult status” would now be firmly endorsed.
Sadly Harold Schuster is not on the radar of cult obsessed
film aficionados.
A lot of Schuster’s films are Allied Artists pictures now owned
by Paramount. Some great thrillers there like PORT OF HELL
and FINGER MAN as well as interesting Westerns like
RETURN OF JACK SLADE and DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE.
I hope the Artus release of JACK SLADE gets plenty of attention
both here and elsewhere (Colin,if you are out there…you NEED
this movie!)
Another well recommended Schuster flick is LOOPHOLE
thankfully available from Warner Archive in a very nice widescreen
transfer. As good as many of Schuster’s films are,certainly
JACK SLADE is his masterpiece.
As a 1953 release, even in November, it’s pretty unlikely that a movie like JACK SLADE was composed for wide screen, John, though I guess it’s possible.
Let us know how it looks. I saw it long ago and do remember it. Pretty dark. I’d like to see it again.
Blake,
I’m only going by info on the 3D Archive which has JACK SLADE
as 1.66 among a whole host of 1953 movies.
JACK SLADE was not a 3D movie BTW but the Museum lists
lots of early Fifties films in either 1.66.1.78 or 1.85
The film is most interesting especially as Colin and yourself
often write brilliant stuff about “redemption” in Westerns.
Mark Stevens’ SLADE is beyond redemption as he is dealt
a cruel blow by fate every time it looks like he might redeem himself.
His decline into booze induced violence is not an easy watch.
Just a question for the curious, or those who may be informed. I see on AMAZON several highly sought after films are now being offered. They are MAN WITHOUT A STAR, DAY OF FURY and BLACK BART. The seller for all three is someone called hodgepodge…Does anyone have the scoop on these films? Widescreen, whatever?…Any info out there for those of us who may be considering a purchase?
PS……several reviewers claim crispness quality, excellent Technicolor, etc…read the reviews…I’m really interested in these films but sense a DVD-r copied from TV alert here. Again, any info from our site’s well informed fan base would be most welcomed.
Richard,
As a Brit I only buy American DVD’s Blu’s from Amazon USA.
Therefore I know nothing about Hodgepodge.
I can only state that MAN WITHOUT A STAR was released by
Explosive Media in Germany in a lovely widescreen transfer.
I should imagine the Spanish version on Amazon USA is a
“bootleg” of the German version.
BLACK BART has been released in Spain (officially) and also
by Universal France,in very nice transfers.
As far as I know A DAY OF FURY has been released on
Blu-Ray in France by Sidonis but with “forced” French subtitles
on the English language version.
Furthermore Koch in Germany recently released a breathtaking
Blu-Ray version of the very underrated STAR IN THE DUST.
All of this begs the question why are all these great Universal
pictures appearing in Europe and not the Home Nation.
As well as Westerns Germany have released lots of lovely
Blu Ray versions of classic Universal Sci-Fi films like TARANTULA!
THE MOLE PEOPLE,THE LAND UNKNOWN and THE MONOLITH
MONSTERS.
This week Germany are releasing a Blu Ray version of THIS
ISLAND EARTH. I guess eventually all of these will surface in
America as a huge Box Set;but at my time of life I am not prepared
to wait.
As mentioned before Turbine Media in Germany have just released
a lovely Box Set of all of Universal’s INVISIBLE MAN films as a DVD/
Blu Ray combo pack.
Elephant Films in France are about to release Blu-Rays of
SON OF FRANKENSTEIN and FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF
MAN.
I simply cannot wait for the latter title as it’s one of my all time faves
though I guess it will appear on Universal Monsters 2 Blu Ray bash
whenever that appears.
For my sins,and a guilty pleasure to be sure I recently got Elephant’s
Blu Ray editions of AIRPORT ’75 and AIRPORT ’77 which are stellar
transfers.Even I drew the line at AIRPORT’80 The Concorde so
even dedicated trash addicts have their limits.
As an add on to the above and to bring things back on topic
(sort of) I also buy American titles from Oldies who provide an
excellent service. My Wild Bill Elliott collection arrived this morning
in perfect condition.
L’éditeur pour le dvd ” Jack Slade ” est bien Artus films, ce qui me fait un peu peur, ” the chase”, “mohawk”, “the proud rebel” ont des copies médiocres voire très mauvaises.
Chip,
Artus seem to be some sort of p.d. imprint who also unearth lots
of Euro Horror/SCi Fi/Exploitation titles as well as lots of Spaghetti
Westerns.I was pleased with some of their Sci Fi sets which
included lovely transfers of ROCKETSHIP XM and KRONOS.
I also got their version of ONLY THE VALIANT which I thought
was pertty good.
I may be wrong but I understand their version of MOHAWK is
the best of many versions available-no one seems to have a
pristine version of this film.
JACK SLADE is an Allied Artists picture and sadly it’s one of
those titles that were sold to Republic decades ago and are now
owned by Paramount.
I would be very interested to know where Artus have sourced
their copy from- Chip, is there anyway you might be able to find this
out.
At any rate I will certainly buy the Artus version as it’s highly
unlikely to surface anywhere else.unless of course Olive Films
decide to lease a copy from Paramount. If Olive do decide to
do this which is highly unlikely,then we will certainly get a
Blu-Ray version of this great Western.
While we are on the subject of Olive Films one of the films
they are leasing from Paramount/Republic is the little known
THE KID FROM CLEVELAND from a director no one has ever
heard of. The film’s reputation is not exactly high.
Are Baseball Films really that popular in America?
On second thoughts perhaps Olive releasing JACK SLADE
is not so unlikely after all.
Just a quick note to John to say that I should be reviewing THE KID FROM CLEVELAND when it comes out…love baseball and love the cast so I’ll give it a go.
Best wishes,
Laura
John K.
La copie de ” Only the the valiant” est effectivement correcte, celle de ” Mohawk” de moindre qualité, mais puisque tu me dis que c’est la meilleure disponible sur le marché, il faut faire avec, le technicolor de ” the proud rebel” est trop pâle à mon goût.
Si JACK SLADE est la propriété de Paramount, Sidonis-Calysta ne pouvait l’avoir, Sidonis n’a accès qu’aux catalogues Universal, U.A., 20th Fox, Columbia. De nouveaux westerns Columbia sont prévus début 2016, chez cet éditeur. Sorry, je ne sais pas où Artus films a eu sa version, et ne nous réjouissons pas trop vite, le film n’est pas encore sorti. Si Olive films édite un jour le film, je l’achèterai également.
Is there anyone out there who can provide a translation of
Chip’s above comments…(Colin,Nick Beal….) they seem to
include some really useful information.
Now Amazon France have JACK SLADE listed as CinemaScope so
we all know that is wrong.
On the same day they are releasing JACK SLADE they are also
releasing CANON CITY a prison break picture shot by the great John Alton.
This was an old Eagle-Lion picture starring Scott Brady,Jeff Corey
and DeForrest Kelly.
Does that mean Artus have access to lots of “lost” vintage Hollywood
titles?
Laura,
I am glad that you are pleased about the release of THE KID FROM
CLEVELAND and I look forward to reading your review.
I just don’t like “Sports” pictures and as a Brit know nothing about
baseball. I just find it an odd choice considering all the great
unreleased Republic titles that they could get hold of.
Le visuel du dvd d’Artus film ” jack Slade ” est sur DVDCLASSIK et WESTERNMOVIES
Here’s a ‘Google translate’ of Chip’s comment above.
“The copy of “Only the valiant the ” is actually correct, that of ” Mohawk ” of lesser quality, but since you tell me that this is the best available in the market , we must do with the technicolor “the proud rebel ” is too light for my taste.
If JACK SLADE is the property of Paramount, Sidonis – Calysta could not have her, Sidonis has access to Universal catalogs, AU , 20th Fox , Columbia. New Columbia westerns are planned early 2016, in this editor. Sorry , I do not know where Artus film had its version, and do not rejoice too quickly , the film is not out yet. If Olive film edits the film one day , I also will buy .”
Google Translate also requiring ‘the gift of interpretation’.
Here’s the translation of Chip’s last comment 10/27 at 11:01 am.
“Dvd visual Artus The film “Jack Slade” is about DVDCLASSIK and WESTERNMOVIES”
Chip, baby, you’ve got to either write in English or use a translator first then post the translated version. Here’s a good place to start: https://translate.google.com/
Love your comments and your info. but copying it to a translator each time you post is a pain.
Sorry, I understand the pain, but my English is very bad, even if I take a dictionary
Well, what you have to say makes it worth putting thru the translator. So please continue to contribute. But if you go to that Google translator place I cited above and type in your message in your own language it will then translate it to English, then just copy and paste the English version here. But I hate to stifle anyone so do what feels comfortable to you.
Don’t worry about your English. And thanks for your comments.
Thanks ! Toby.